While the sisters Tatyana and Olga Larina sing a melancholy love song, Madame Larina reminisces with Filipyevna, the aged nurse. Peasants are heard singing, announcing the completion of the harvest. Down-to-earth Olga chides Tatyana for being a dreamer. Madame Larina remarks how pale Tatyana looks. Tatyana explains how she thrills to the stories of ill-fated lovers. Lensky, a neighboring landowner, arrives with his sophisticated friend, Eugene Onegin. Lensky courts Olga. Tatyana recognizes in Onegin the man whom she believes Fate has chosen for her.

Later that evening, Tatyana writes a long letter to Onegin, declaring her love for him and leaving herself to his mercy.

The next day, Onegin calls on Tatyana, coolly explains that he could never be happy married to her, and advises her to control her feelings in the future. He leaves the humiliated Tatyana behind.

At Tatyana’s “Name-Day” ball, some guests waltz while others gossip about Onegin. Hearing them, he becomes angry that Lensky brought him to this party and decides to make Lensky jealous. Onegin dances with the flirtatious Olga; when Lensky reproaches her, she brushes him aside and keeps dancing with Onegin.

Lensky becomes agitated and denounces Onegin in front of everyone. Onegin accepts Lensky’s challenge to a duel. The next morning, Lensky recounts his love for Olga. Lensky and Onegin question their resolve, but they cannot turn back from the duel. Onegin shoots Lensky dead.

Years later, after wandering abroad, Onegin has returned to St. Petersburg. He is bored at a party, despite the lively entertainment. Tatyana enters with her husband, the war hero Prince Gremin. Gremin ‘introduces’ Onegin to Tatyana and tells of their happy marriage.

Onegin is struck by Tatyana’s cultivated poise and beauty, and realizes to his surprise that he is in love with her. The next day, Onegin calls on Tatyana, whose feelings have been stirred by seeing him again. She discourages him, but admits that she loves him. Resolving to stay true to her husband, she flies from the room, leaving Onegin alone to despair.